Paving machine



B. R. LEE

PAVING MACHINE Dec. 13 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 Dec. 13, 1966 B. R. LEE

- PAVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan 13, 1964 INVENTOR. B L L Y R. L

ATTORNEYS B. R. LEE

PAVING MACHINE Dec. 13, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 13, 1964 I; i

INVENTORZ Emu. R- EE BY M c I 1 I M ATTORNEY 5 Dec. 13, 1966 B. R. LEE 3,291,012

PAVING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13/ 1964 4 SheetsSheet 4 ms HI no an me5 Arm-Hi2 qiximi nmmm INVENTORI BxLLY R. LEE

BY 3 qe wi ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,291,012 PAVWG MACHINE Billy R. Lee, Rte. 6, Box 608 C3, Charlotte, N.C. Filed Jan. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 337,205 13 Claims. (Cl. 9444) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 225,257, filed September 21, 1962, now US. Patent No. 3,246,584.

The present invention relates to improved paving machines and more particularly to improvements in paving machines of the type adapted to be drawn behind a truck containing the paving material and from which the paving material is unloaded into the paving machine to be spread, smoothed and compacted onto the surface to be paved.

The paving machine of the present invention is similar in many respects to the paving machine disclosed in my aforesaid copending application. For example, the paving machine of both applications is of simplified construction, having a screed for spreading, smoothing and compacting the paving material, the working surface of the screed is lubricated to prevent the paving material from sticking thereto without the necessity of burners for heating the screed, and the central portion of the screed may be bowed upwardly or downwardly in a minimum amount of time to form paving strips of paving material having various cross-sectional configurations.

The paving machine disclosed in the above-noted copending application has many advantages over previous paving machines however, there are instances when it is desirable to guide the paving machine from side-to-side independently of the normal straight path of the truck behind which the paving machine is drawn. Also, it is at times desirable to quickly ascertain the vertical position of the screed relative to the side walls of the paving machine and to use different types of trucks to load and pull the paving machine.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved paving machine which includes means for laterally guiding the path of travel of the paving machine as it is drawn behind a truck.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved paving machine of the type described which has an improved adjustable hopper which may be adjusted to receive the paving material from different types of trucks and wherein the hopper may also be adjusted to receive varying amounts of paving material therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved paving machine of the type described which is provided with a pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted for independent adjustment on the paving machine to aid in supporting the screed supporting frame of the machine in various angular positions, particularly during the laying of contiguous strips of paving material.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved paving machine of the type described wherein means are provided for indicating the position of the screed relative to the side walls of the machine.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved paving machine of the type described which includes an improved lubricating system for uniformly distributing lubricant to the screed so as to prevent the paving material from sticking to the screed during the paving operation and to thereby facilitate the screeds spreading, smoothing and compacting of the paving material.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved paving machine of the type described wherein the means for laterally guiding the path of travel of the paving machine includes flexible draft means that is connected to the front portion of the machine and wherein the point of connection on the machine is free floating in lateral directions, unless restrained, to permit the alinement of the flexible draft means in a straight line directly behind the truck when the machine is first connected to a truck.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will apper as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the improved paving machine of the present invention, illustrating the same connected to the rear portion of a truck from which the paving material is deposited in the hopper of the paving machine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the paving machine and showing the manner in which the same is connected to the axles of the truck as the paving machine is drawn therebehind;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the paving machine with a medial portion broken away, and looking from the rear of the machine;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged front elevation looking in the direction of the line 44 in FIGURE 1, with a medial portion broken away;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view with parts in section, taken substantially along the line 88 in FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary elevation along line 99 in FIGURE 8 and illustrating the face of the lubricant distributing plate attached to the front of the screed.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URES 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that the paving machine includes a pair of side members 22, 23 which are joined together at their forward portions by a channel member 24 and rearwardly therefrom by a rear wall 25 extending downwardly and forwardly at an acute angle to the vertical (FIGURE 7). The rear wall 25 preferably extends upwardly beyond the upper edge of side members 22, 23 to aid in preventing the paving material from falling rearwardly out of the hopper and the lower edge of the rear wall 25 terminates in spaced relationship above the lower edges of the side members 22, 23 to define a paving material discharge opening between the channel member 24 and the rear wall 25.

The paving machine is normally supported for movement over the surface to be paved by a pair of skids 26, 27 (FIGURES 3 and 4) which are preferably formed of suitable angle material. The vertical legs of the skids 2d, 27 are suitably secured on the outer surfaces of the respective side members 22, 23 while the horizontal legs thereof :are disposed at the same elevation as the lower edges of the side members 22, 23. The forward portions of skids 26, 27 are preferably curved upwardly (FIGURE 4), as is the forward portions of the lower edges of the side members 22, 23, to facilitate movement of the paving machine over the surface to be paved.

It is to be noted that the lower portions of the side members 22, 23 serve as confining means to prevent the paving material from being discharged and spreading outwardly from the paving machine. It is further noted that the forwardly and downwardly angled position of the rear wall 25 permits some of the weight of the paving material (which is normally deposited within the hopper) to be utilized to hold the paving machine downwardly and in contact with the surface to be paved.

An angle member 32 (FIGURE 7) is suitably con nected at opposite ends to the side members 22, 23 and has one leg thereof suitably secured to the rear surface of the lower portion of the rear wall 25 with the other leg thereof disposed perpendicular to the rear wall 25 and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom at an acute angle to the horizontal. The rearwardly extending leg of the angle member 32 defines means for pantially compacting the paving material as it is discharged from the hopper and passes beneath the lower edge of the rear wall 25.

A screed, broadly referred to at 33 (FIGURES 3 and 7), is disposed rearwardly of the rear wall 25 and the angle member 32 and extends substantially the full distance between the side members 22 and 23. The screed 33 is preferably formed of a plate which is bent to form a horizontally disposed leg 35, a vertically extending leg 36 and an inclined leg 36b which extends rearwardly at an acute angle to the vertical. A central portion of the vertical and inclined legs 36, 36b is cut away to permit upward and downward bowing of the central portion of the horizontal leg of the screed 33, by means to be presently described.

A pair of reinforcing plates 39, only one of which is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, are suitably secured to the front face of the vertical leg 36 of the screed 33 and on opposite sides of the cutout, not shown, therein. The reinforcing plates 39 extend substantially the complete length of the vertical leg 36 of thescreed 33 and in addition to reinforcing the same, they also aid in distribution of a lubricant, in a manner to be presently described.

A pair of brace plates 40, 41 (FIGURE 3) are suitably connected along their upper side edges to the upper portion of the rear surface of the leg 36 of the screed 33 and along their lower side edges to the upper surface of the horizontal leg 35. The brace members 40, 41 extend from opposite ends of the screed 33 to points adjacent opposite sides of the central cutouts in the legs 36, 36b and serve to reinforce the screed 33. Lateral brace members 42 and longitudinal brace members 43 are disposed in a vertical plane on the upper surface of the horizontal leg 35 and serve to brace the screed 33. The brace members 42 and 43 may be suitably connected to each other and to the screed 33 by any suitable means, such as welding or the like.

Means are provided at the center of the screed 33 for maintaining the lower surface of the screed in a straight line, for bowing the central portion upwardly or downwardly to lay paving strips which are respectively fiat, or have a convex or concave upper surface. The screed bowing means comprises a pair of forward vertical standards 45, 46 (FIGURE 3) which are secured at their lower ends to the horizontal leg 35 of the screed 33 and at their upper ends to the upper rear edge of the rearwardly extending angular leg 36b (FIGURE 7). The standards 45, 46 are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the central cutout, not shown, in the legs 36 and 36!). A pair of rear vertical standards 47, 48 are suitably secured at their lower ends to the horizontal leg 35 of the screed 33 and extend upwardly therefrom.

A pair of bars 50, 51 are suitably supported at opposite ends in the upper portions of the respective front and rear vertical members 45, 47 and 46, 48. An adjust ment bolt 52 is journaled for rotation at one end in the bar 51 and its opposite end threadably penetrates the bar 50. The bolt 52 may be rotated to move the bars 50, 51 closer together to thereby how the central portion of the screed 33 downwardly, or the bolt 52 may be rotated in the opposite direction to move the bars 50, 51 further apart and blow the central portion of the screed 33 upwardly.

The forward portion of the screed 33 is pivotally supported at opposite ends in the inwardly projecting portions of respective vertically adjustable bearing blocks 60 and 61 (FIGURES 1 and 3) which extend through the respective side walls 22 and 23. The bearing blocks 60 and 61 are threadably supported for vertical adjustment on medial portions of respective vertically disposed screws 62 and 63. The lower ends of each of the screws 62, 63 are journaled for rotation in suitable bearing members which are mounted on the respective horizontal legs of the skids 26, 27. The upper portions of the screws 62, 63 are supported for rotation in respective angle brackets 64, 65 which are in turn secured to the respective side members 22, 23. The upper ends of the screws 62, 63 are provided with crank handles to facilitate rotation of the screws 62, 63 and the resulting raising or lowering of the position of the screed 33, relative to the side walls 22, 23,

As has been mentioned, the forward portion of the screed 33 is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on the bearing members 60, 61 and the rear or trailing portion of the screed 33 is free to move upwardly and downwardly and will rest on the paving material that is discharged from the hopper and spread by the leading edge of the screed 33. The free floating rear portion of the horizontal leg 35 aids in smoothing and compacting the strip of paving material and its downward movement may be restricted in any suitable manner, not shown.

The inner edges of a pair of skid extension members and 91 (FIGURE 2) are hingedly connected to the outer edges of the respective skids 26, 27 for pivotal movement between a horizontal and a vertical position. When in the horizontal position, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the skid extension members 90, 91 serve as extensions of the skids 26, 27 to thereby spread the weight of the paving machine over a much larger portion of the surface supporting the same.

Suitable turnbuckles and 101 are supported at their upper ends on the respective side members 22, 23 and at their lower ends on the respective skid extension members 90, 91 to support the skid extension members in the horizontal position. In order to move the skid extension members 90, 91 to the vertical position, the turnbuckles 100, 101 may be easily removed and suitable latching means, not shown, on the side walls 22, 23 may be provided to hold the skid extension members 90, 91 in the vertical position.

The parts of the paving machine heretofore described are very similar to the corresponding parts of the paving machine disclosed in my said copending application. The paving machine of the copending application is also provided with means for distributing a lubricant to the screed. However, the lubricant distributing system shown in the present paving machine provides a more uniform distribution of the lubricant to the leading edge of the screed 33 and this improved lubricant distributing system will first be described and then the other improvements in the paving machine will be described.

A lubricant supply tank or reservoir (FIGURE 3) is suitably supported on the upper portion of the rear wall 25 and intermediate the ends of an angle brace 111 which is suitably secured at opposite ends to the side walls 22, 23. A manual valve 112 is connected to the lower portion of the supply tank 110 and its other end is connected to one end of a lubricant supply line 113. The other end of the supply line 113 is suitably connected to a medial portion of a lubricant distributing pipe 114, having a plurality of spaced apart lubricant dispensing openings 115 therein (FIGURE 8). The lubricant distributing pipe 114 is resiliently held on a medial portion of the rearwardly inclined leg 36b of the screed 33 (FIGURE 7) by a plurality of spring wire clamp members 116. The lower legs of the resilient clamp members 116 are suitably secured to the rearwardly slanting leg 36b and the upper legs are provided with bends which provide a seat for the pipe 114, from which it may be easily removed for cleaning and the like.

A protector plate 117 is hingedly supported at its upper edge on the rear wall 25 (FIGURES 3 and 7) and its lower edge engages the free rear edge of the inclined leg 36!) of the screed 33. A suitable cutout is provided in the central portion of the hinge plate 117 so that the lubricant supply tube 113 may pass therethrough in its path to the lubricant distributing pipe 114 (FIGURE 7).

As best shown in FIGURE 9, the inner face of the reinforcing plate 39 is provided with diamond-shaped projections 120 and when the inner face of the reinforcing plate 39 is held in contact with the front face of the leg 36 of the screed 33, zig-zagged lubricant passageways are provided between the diamond-shaped projection 120 on the plate 39. Thus, when the valve 112 is opened, lubricant, preferably in the form of diesel fuel, will flow from the tank 110, through the supply line 113 and outwardly therefrom into the distribution pipe 114. The lubricant will then be uniformly distributed through the openings 115 and onto the inclined upper surface of the leg 36b to flow down the vertical leg 36 and travel a zig-zagged path through the passageways between the diamond shaped projections 120 on the plate 39 to be evenly distributed on the screed at the juncture of the vertical leg 36 and the horizontal leg 35.

In order to be able to quickly ascertain the position of the lower surface of the screed 33, relative to the side walls 22, 23, pointers 122 are connected at one end to each of the bearing members 60, 61 (FIGURES 1 and 3) and extend rearwardly therefrom. The free ends of the pointers 122 overlie corresponding scales 123 which are suitably secured to the side walls 22, 23 and adjacent the opening through which the bearing members 611 and 61 extend. Thus, rotation of either of the screws 62, 63 will result in vertical movement of the corresponding bearing blocks 60, 61 to raise and lower corresponding ends of the screed 33 and the pointers 121D and the scales 123 will give an accurate and easily determinable indication of the position of the screed 33 relative to the side walls 22, 23.

To accommodate various loads and various types of trucks which may be required to draw the paving ma chine therebehind, the hopper of the paving machine is provided with an angularly adjustable front wall 123 which is shown in a vertical position in FIGURES 1 and 2 and in a forwardly inclined position in FIGURE 7. The lower edge of the front wall 125 is hingedly supported on the upper rearward portion of the channel member 24 and is held in adjusted position by a pair of chains 126, 127. The front ends of the chains 126, 127 are attached to the rear surface of the plate 125 and their opposite ends are adjustably secured in suitable key-hole openings in the respective side walls 22, 23. Thus, the rear ends of the chains 126, 127 may be raised in the key-hole slots and either let out or drawn in to correspondingly lower or raise the front wall 125 and then the links of the chain may be lowered in the key-hole slots to support the front wall 125 in adjusted position.

A pair of ground-engaging wheels 1313 and 131 are supported for vertical movement relative to and adjacent the corresponding side walls 22, 23 (FIGURE 2). These wheels are provided primarily to use when laying contiguous strips of paving material, as is illustrated in FIG- URE 4, to help support one side of the paving machine at a higher level than the other side and to prevent the corresponding skid and skid extension from damaging the previously laid paving strip. However, it will be appreciated that the opposite wheel, for example the wheel 131 in FIGURE 4 can also be adjusted to aid in supporting the front end of the corresponding skid 27. Since each of the wheels 1311, 131 are supported for vertical movement relative to the side walls 22, 23 in an identical manner, only the support and adjustment means for the wheel 130 will be described in detail and like reference characters with the prime notation added will be applied to corresponding parts associated with the wheel 131.

The wheel 1311 is supported for rotation in the forward end of a fork 132 (FIGURE 2), the rear end of which is fixed on a shaft 133 that is pivotally supported on the channel 24. The shaft 133 extends outwardly through the side wall 22 and has the forward end of a control lever 134 fixed thereto. The control lever 134 extends rearwardly and has a handle on its rearmost portion and the lever 134- is normally biased outwardly away from the side wall 22. A medial portion of the control lever 134 passes the inside of a U-shaped locking bracket 135, the upper and lower legs of which are suitably connected to the side wall 22. The inner surface of the locking bracket 135 is provided with a rack 136 (FIGURE 4) having locking teeth which are adapted to be engaged by a single locking tooth 134a on the outer surface of a medial portion of the control lever 134. It is to be understood that the rack 136 could be suitably attached to the side wall 22 and then the locking tooth 134a would be positioned on the opposite side of the lever 134.

As an aid in maintaining the ground-engaging wheel in alinement with the side wall 22, the shaft on which the wheel 130 is mounted extends through an arcuate guide slot in the side wall 22 (FIGURE 1) and a nut 137 is threaded thereon. In order to adjust the vertical position of the ground wheel 130, the free end of the lever 134 is first moved inwardly toward the side wall 22 so that it can be raised and lowered. As is evident in FIGURE 1, lowering the free end of the lever 134 will raise the Wheel 1136 and conversely, raising the lever 134 will lower the wheel 130, relative to the side wall 22. When the wheel 134) is in the proper adjusted position and the locking tooth 134a on the lever 134 will be moved into engagement with the corresponding locking teeth 136 on the bracket to maintain the Wheel 130 in adjusted position.

As has heretofore been mentioned, one important improvement in the paving machine of the present invention resides in the addition of guide means for laterally guiding the paving machine from side to side as it is drawn forwardly behind a truck. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the forward ends of a pair of hook members 1411 and 141 are hooked over the axle 142 of the dump truck in spaced apart relationship. The rear ends of the hook members 1411, 141 are suitably connected to the forward ends of a pair of flexible draft chains 144, 145, the rear ends of which are connected to drift pins that are removably supported in pairs of spaced lugs 146, 147. Medial portions of the chains 144, 145 are connected together by a bridle chain 148 (FIGURE 2).

The lugs 146, 147 are suitably connected at their rear ends to medial portions of a slide plate 151). The slide plate 1511 is supported in a vertical position for movement toward either side of the paving machine and movement is imparted to the slide plate 150, in a manner to be presently described. A lower angle guide member 151 gas a horizontal leg which is suitably secured to the lower surface of the channel 24 and a vertical leg which extends upwardly in front of the lower portion of the slide plate 159. The upper edge of the angle member 15 1 is. slidably engaged by a forward rib 156a on the slide 150 (FIGURES 5 and 6). An upper angle member 152 has a horizontal leg which is removably connected, as by bolts 1520, to the upper flange of the channel 24 and a vertical leg which extends downwardly in front of the upper portion of the slide plate 151 Thus, the slide plate 151% is confined for sliding movement between the vertical legs of the angle members 151, 152 and the front surfaces of the horizontal flanges of the channel member 24.

One leg of an angle clip 153 is suitably secured to the rear surface of the slide 156 (FIGURES 4 and 5) and has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined leg to which opposite ends of a chain 155 are connected. The chain 155 extends around an idler sprocket 156 (FIGURE 4) and a driving sprocket 157. The idler sprocket 156 is supported on one end of a stub shaft 160 (FIGURE 5), the other end of which is rotatably supported in a bearing 161, suitably supported in the channel 24. The driving sprocket 157 (FIGURE 6) is fixed to the lower end of an upwardly and rearwardly extending control shaft 162, the lower portion of which is rotatably supported in a bearing member 163, supported in the vertical leg of the channel member 24.

The control shaft 162 extends through the channel member 24 and upwardly and rearwardly through the rear wall 25 (FIGURE 7) and is rotatably supported adjacent its upper end in a bearing 163. The bearing 163 is suitably supported on a bracket 164, opposite ends of which are suitably connected to the rear edge of the frame member 111 and the rear surface of the rear wall 25 (FIGURES 3 and 7).

The upper end of the control shaft 162 is provided with a four-pronged crank handle 165 which may be manually rotated to impart rotation to the control shaft 162. When rotation is imparted to the control shaft 162, like rotation will be imparted to the driving sprocket 157 to move the chain 155 and thereby move the angle clip 153 and slide 150 transversely of the paving machine.

When the slide 150 is positioned in the central portion of the channel member 24, as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2, the paving machine will be drawn in direct alinement behind the truck. Rotation of the crank handle 165 and the control shaft 162 will cause lateral movement of the paving machine so that it will be shifted and be drawn in offset relationship behind the truck. Thus, by manual operation of the crank handle 165, the paving machine may be guided from side to side, as desired. This guiding feature is particularly useful in the laying of contiguous paving strips where it is desired to have the edge of one paving strip closely abut against the edge of a previously laid paving strip.

When the slide 150 and the chain support lugs 146, 147 are moved downwardly in FIGURE 2 toward the position shown in dotted lines, the chains 144, 145 will be positioned at an angle behind the truck and the paving machine will be gradually shifted with forward motion of the truck until the draw chains 144, 145 move back to the solid line position straight behind the truck. As the chains 144, 145 move back to straight position, the paving machine will be guided upwardly in FIGURE 2 and then the paving machine will be drawn behind the truck in offset relationship.

Conversely, when the control shaft 162 and crank handle 165 are rotated in the opposite direction to move the slide 150 upwardly in FIGURE 2 so that the chains 144, 145 occupy the angular position shown in dash-dot lines, the paving machine will be gradually moved downwardly in FIGURE 2 until the chains 144, 145 are moved to the solid line position straight behind the truck and then the paving machine will be drawn behind the truck in offset relationship thereto, being shifted downwardly in FIG; URE 2. Of course, it is to be understood that the slide 150 may be shifted any desired amount and to any intermediate position between the dotted line and dash-dot line positions shown in FIGURE 2.

The shifting of the point of connection of the flexible draft means on the front portion of the machine has so far been described as being carried out by rotation of the crank handle 165. However, the slide 150 is mounted for free and easy movement in the channel member 24 so that it is self-centering, if its movement is not restrained by preventing rotation of the crank handle 165. This self-centering feature of the slide 150 has very definite advantages and is particularly useful when initially attaching a truck to the paving machine. When a truck is backed into position to be attached to the paving machine, it is usually necessary that it be accurately alined with the paving machine. However, with the improved machine of the present invention, it is not necessary to carefully aline the truck with the paving machine because of the self-centering feature of the slide 150. When the hook members 140, 141 are connected to the axle 142 of the truck, the initial pull of the truck will cause the chains 144, 145 to move the slide along the channel 24 until it is centered behind the truck. Then, the paving machine will be moved forwardly along the same path that it was traveling when it was pulled by the previous truck. As soon as the slide 150 has centered itself, the operator may then hold the crank handle and impart any necessary manual rotation thereto which is needed to guide the paving machine.

As best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 7, all of the controls are conveniently located at the rear portion of the paving machine so that the operator can follow along behind the paving machine and make any desired corrections to the apparatus. Thus, the positions of the wheels 130, 131 may be easily controlled by the levers 134, 134, the flow of lubricant can be easily adjusted or cut off by the manual valve 112, the position of the slide 150 in the channel 24 may be changed by rotation of the crank handle 165, and the vertical height of either end of the screed 33 can be easily controlled by the screws 62, 63.

The improvements in the paving machine of the present application over the paving machine disclosed in my above-noted copending application include an improved system for distributing lubricant to the screed 33, means for indicating the height of the lower edge of the screed relative to the side walls 22, 23, an adjustable front wall for the hopper of the paving machine, adjustable groundengaging wheels on the front portion of the paving machine, and guiding means for moving the paving machine laterally from side to side as it is drawn forwardly by the truck.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A paving machine adapted to be drawn behind a truck for depositing strips of paving material onto a surface to be paved, said paving machine comprising (a) a hopper adapted to receive paving material therein and having a discharge opening therein for discharging the paving material onto the surface to be paved,

(b) a pair of spaced apart side members connected to said hopper and having surface engaging means carried thereby for supporting said hopper above the surface for movement thereover,

(c) screed means carried by said side members rearwardly of the discharge opening in said hopper for smoothing and compacting the paving material as said paving machine is drawn forwardly over the surface to be paved,

(d) flexible draft means connected at one end to the front portion of said paving machine and adapted to be connected at the other end to a truck, and

(e) means slidably mounted on the front portion of said paving machine for lateral sliding movement for shifting the point of connection of said one end of said flexible draft means laterally of said paving machine to guide the paving machine laterally as it is drawn forwardly.

2. In a paving machine according to claim 1 including a transversely extending front frame member connected at opposite ends to said spaced apart side members, and wherein said means (e) includes (1) a slide member supported for longitudinal sliding movement on said front frame member,

(2) means carried by said slide member for connecting one end of said flexible draft means thereto, and

(3) manually operable means connected to said slide member and being operable to move said slide memher along said front frame member.

3. In a paving machine according to claim 2 wherein said means (3) includes (A) an idler sprocket supported on said front frame member,

(B) a driver sprocket supported on said front frame member and spaced from said idler sprocket,

(C) a chain engaging said idler and driver sprockets and being connected to said slide member,

(D) a control shaft connected at one end to said driver sprocket, and

(E) a crank handle connected to the other end of said control shaft and being manually operable to impart movement to said chain and said slide member.

4. A paving machine adapted to be drawn behind a truck for depositing strips of paving material onto a surface to be paved, said paving machine comprising (a) a hopper adapted to receive paving material therein and having a discharge opening therein for discharging the paving material onto the surface to be paved,

(b) a pair of spaced apart side members connected to said hopper and having surf-ace engaging means carried thereby for supporting said hopper above the surface for movement thereover,

(c) screed means carried by said side members rearwardly of the discharge opening in said hopper for smoothing and compacting the paving material as said paving machine is drawn forwardly over the surface .to be paved,

(d) flexible draft means connected at one end to the front portion of said paving machine and adapted to be connected at the other end to a truck, and

(e) means slidably mounted on the front portion of said paving machine \for free shifting movement laterally of said paving machine, said flexible draft means being connected at said one end to said free shifting means and being operable to shift the point of connection of said one end of said flexible draft means into proper alinement behind the corresponding point of connection to the tnuck with initial forward movement of the truck.

5. A paving machine adapted to be drawn behind a truck for depositing strips of paving material onto a surface -to be paved, said paving machine comprising (a) a hopper adapted to receive paving material therein and having a discharge opening therein for discharging the paving material onto the sun-face to be paved,

(b) means connected to said hopper and engageable with the surface to be paved for sup-porting said hopper above the surface for movement thereover,

(c) a screed mounted on said hopper rearwardly of the discharge opening in said hopper and :having a working surface adapted to engage the paving material dischanged from said hopper for smoothing and compacting the paving material as said paving machine is drawn forwardly over the surface to be paved,

(d) means associated with said screed for dispensing a lubricant onto the working surface of said screed to facilitate the screeds smoothing and compaction of the paving material,

(e) flexible draft means connected at one end to the from end of said paving machine and adapted to be connected at the other end to the truck, and

(f) means mounted on the front end of said paving machine for shifting the point of connection of said one end of said flexible draft means laterally of said paving machine to guide the paving machine laterally at it is drawn forwardly by the truck.

6. In a paving machine according to claim 5 wherein said means (b) includes (1) a pair of spaced apart side members having surface engaging skids on their lower edges,

(2) surface engaging wheels carried by said paving machine and positioned adjacent the forward ends of each of said side members, and

(3) adjustment means supporting each of said wheels for independent vertical adjustment relative to said conresponding side members.

7. In a paving machine according to claim 6 wherein each of said wheel adjustment means includes (A) a yoke \rotatably supporting said wheel in its forward end,

(B) a shaft oscillatably supported on said machine and being fixed at one end to the rear end of said yoke,

(C) a control lever connected at one end to the other end of said shaft and extending rearwardly adjacent said side member, the rearmost end of said control lever being movable up and down to correspondingly lower and raise said wheel, and

(D) means carried by said side member and said control lever for locking said control lever and said wheel in various adjusted positions.

8. In a paving machine according to claim 7 said locking means (D) includes (1) a locking tooth on a medial portion of said control lever,

(2) a rack of locking teeth operatively associated with said locking tooth on said control lever, and

(3) said control lever being normally biased toward said rack of locking teeth to move said locking tooth into engagement with the locking teeth of said rack.

9. In a paving machine according to claim 5 wherein said hopper (a) includes (1) an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear wall,

(2) an upwardly extending front wall pivot-ally supported at its lower edge on the paving machine for movement between vertical and various forwardly inclined positions, and

(3) means carried by said front wall and engageable with said side members for selectively holding said front wall in the vertical and various forwardly inclined positions.

10, In a paving machine according to claim 5 wherein the working surface of said screed is horizontally disposed and wherein said screed (c) includes (1) a vertically extending front portion, and

(2.) an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion, and

wherein wherein said lubricant dispensing means (d) includes (1) a lubricant supply tank carried by said paving machine,

(2) a lubricant distributing pipe having a plurality of lubricant dispensing openings and being supported on the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of said screed,

(3) pipe means communicatively connecting said supply tank and said lubricant distributing pipe for depositing the lubricant onto the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of said screed, and

(4) reinforcing plate means carried on the vertically extending front portion of said screed, said reinforcing plate means having an embossed surface in engagement with the mating surface of the vertical portion of said screed to form lubricant passageways through which the lubricant passes as it flows from the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion to the horizontal portion of said screed.

11. In a paving machine according to claim 10 wherein a plurality of spring clip members are fixed on the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of said screed and support said lubricant distributing pipe for easy removal therefrom.

12. In a paving machine according to claim wherein said means (b) includes a pair of spaced side members having surface engaging skids on their lower edges and wherein said paving machine includes (1) means carried by each of said side members for independent vertical adjustment of each end of said screed to the desired height above the surface engaging skids of each side member,

(2) an indicating scale carried by each of said side members and adjacent said screed adjustment means, and

(3) pointer means carried by each of said screed adjustment means and overlying said indicating scales for indicating the vertical position of each end of said screed relative to the corresponding side walls.

13. A paving machine adapted to be drawn behind a truck for depositing strips of paving material onto a surface to be paved, said paving machine comprising (a) a hopper adapted to receive paving material therein and having a discharge opening therein for discharging the paving material onto the surface to be paved,

(b) a pair of spaced apart side members connected to said hopper and having surface engaging skids on their lower edges for supporting said hopper above the surface for movement thereover,

(c) a transversely extending front frame member connected at opposite ends to said spaced apart side members,

(d) a slide member supported for longitudinal sliding movement on said front frame member,

(e) manually operable means connected to said slide member and being operable to move said slide memher along said front frame member,

(f) flexible draft means connected at one end to said slide member and adapted to be connected at the other end to the truck,

(g) surface engaging wheels carried by said paving machine and positioned adjacent the forward ends of each of said side members,

(h) adjustment means supporting said wheels for independent vertical adjustment relative to said side members,

(i) a screed supported for vertical adjustment on said side members and rearwardly of the discharge opening in said hopper, said screed including (1) a horizontally disposed working surface adapted to engage the paving material discharged from said hopper for smoothing and compacting the paving material as said paving machine is drawn forwardly over the surface to be paved,

(2) a vertically extending front portion, and

(3) an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion,

(j) means associated with said screed for dispensing a lubricant onto the working surface of said screed to facilitate the screeds smoothing and compaction of the paving material, said lubricant dispensing means including (1) a lubricant supply tank carried by said paving machine,

(2) a lubricant distributing pipe having a plurality of lubricant dispensing openings and being supported on the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of said screed,

(3) pipe means communicatively connecting said supply tank and said lubricant distributing pipe for depositing the lubricant onto the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of said screed, and

(4) reinforcing plate means carried on the vertically extending front portion of said screed, said reinforcing plate means having an embossed surface in engagement with the mating surface of the vertical portion of said screed to form lubricant passageways through which the lubricant passes as it flows from the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion to the horizontal working surface of said screed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,612 5/1938 Arndt 94-44 2,178,467 10/1939 Brent 280-408 X 2,953,977 9/1960 Warren 94-44 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner,

N. C. BYERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PAVING MACHINE ADAPTED TO BE DRAWN BEHIND A TRUCK FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF PAVING MATERIAL ONTO A SURFACE TO BE PAVED, SAID PAVING MACHINE COMPRISING (A) A HOPPER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE PAVING MATERIAL THEREIN AND HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN FOR DISCHARGING THE PAVING MATERIAL ONTO THE SURFACE TO BE PAVED, (B) A PAIR OF SPACED APART SIDE MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID HOPPER AND HAVING SURFACE ENGAGING MEANS CARRIED THEREBY FOR SUPPORTING SAID HOPPER ABOVE THE SURFACE FOR MOVEMENT THEREOVER, (C) SCREED MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SIDE MEMBERS REARWARDLY OF THE DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID HOPPER FOR SMOOTHING AND COMPACTING THE PAVING MATERIAL AS SAID PAVING MACHINE IS DRAWN FORWRDLY OVER THE SURFACE TO BE PAVED, (D) FLEXIBLE DRAFT MEANS CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID PAVING MACHINE AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END TO A TRUCK, AND (E) MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID PAVING MACHINE FOR LATERAL SLIDING MOVEMENT FOR SHIFTING THE POINT OF CONNECTION OF SAID ONE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE DRAFT MEANS LATERALLY OF SAID PAVING MACHINE TO GUIDE THE PAVING MACHINE LATERALLY AS IT IS DRAWN FORWARDLY. 